Beit Immanuel Newsletter
  Kislev 5769
 December 2008
Fight for Rights

The battle over citizen rights for Jewish believers in Yeshua in Israel continues.

Even though the Supreme Court of Israel has determined in favor of citizen rights for Jewish believers in Yeshua in a number of cases, the Ministry of the Interior often refuses to abide by the rulings.

Israel's Ministry of Interior is heavily influenced by Orthodox Religious political parties who want to retain control of determining "who is a Jew."

The Ministry now wants to deport another young Jewish family from Israel. The family who have two young girls are part of Beit Immanuel. The children grew up in the Land and have lived in Israel for 10 years.

A team from the Jerusalem Institute for Justice has now brought this case before the Supreme Court of Israel. They are arguing that the  Ministry of Interior is not acting in compliance with the laws of the State.

Winning this case will be an important step in helping secure citizen rights for all Jewish believers in Yeshua in Israel, as well as those who want to immigrate.

We ask your prayers for this important ruling. There is also a financial need.

The law team working on the case at the Institute need $10,000 to defend this family before the Supreme Court. The young family do not have this kind of money.

If you would like to help, please write to us for more information, or else Click here.
Future plans
We have decided together with our partners CMJ to look into the potential of developing the land of Beit Immanuel for greater ministry. Working with engineers, financial consultants and city planners on a development plan over the next 12 months, we will be considering how Beit Immanuel can increase its strategic potential for ministry to the people of Israel.
 
Also, David is scheduled for surgery on January 18th to repair a disintegrated disk in his lower back from which he has suffered for many years. This will require some months of rehabilitation.

In light of this, we feel it is right to postpone our proposed speaking tour next summer. We were so looking forward to it, but we now see it will be much more productive to come when we have finalized the plans for the Beit Immanuel development project as well as given sufficient time for David's full recovery. We appreciate your understanding and prayers for this.
Fight for Right and Light
 The men who came by boat to the shores of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) had a task. How to murder as many people as possible. Will it be the young mother, her new born baby, children or perhaps a grandmother enjoying the last days of her old age?
  So far we know that 171 people are dead and 293 people were severely injured, the state government said. The terrorists had planned to kill 5000 people, it was reported.
  It is hard for the rest of the world to comprehend the impact that this terror attack is having on the Indian people. The people of India are comparing it to how the Americans felt after 9/11.
  Who is not shocked by the growing threat of Islamic terror around the world? Who can comprehend young people blowing themselves up in order to kill innocent people?
  Fundamental Islamic Jihad is the only religion known to man that finds honor in killing innocent people. Even Japanese Kamikazes crashed their planes only as a last-ditch effort when there was no other way to hit a military target. Islamic terrorists kill themselves targeting innocent people and are called martyrs.
  Islamic Holy War is an ideology unknown in the history of mankind. That is what makes it so shocking and so difficult to deal with.
   No other religion teaches their children to sacrifice their lives in order to kill innocent people. This idea is a desecration to all that is human. It is a philosophy at war with civilization.
  There is no logic or purpose that makes sense of it. It is a kill, kill philosophy. Nobody wins. There can be no other response than shock and disgust.
  The war in Iraq and Israel's fifty-year battle with Palestinian terror have shown that this ideology cannot be beaten by force alone. Religion cannot be fought with guns.
  I hear some people say, "We don't understand the grievances of the terrorists. If we would listen to them there would be less terror in the world."
  Are these terrorists the only ones with grievances? In the last century alone, we have endured two world-wide wars, innumerable civil wars, Hiroshima, massacres, pogroms and a holocaust. Did you ever see a survivor of the holocaust or of Hiroshima blow up a hospital, a school or a hotel? Do they not have grievances?
  No grievance can justify the targeted killing of innocent people. None. Never.
  There was a time when people were willing to fight for what was right, for what they believed in. This is such a time.
  The values of an entire generation are being challenged by this growing manifestation of evil. We cannot afford not to confront this. Not now, not ever.
  For Jews, Chanukah is the call to stand and fight against tyranny and the forces of evil that threaten to undermine God's commandments. Christmas reminds us that the light that has come into the world through Messiah can overcome ALL darkness.
  We do not know what will happen in 2009.  Let us have the courage to stand up for what is right, the faith to hold fast the truth of his light, so that together we can confront this present darkness.
With our warmest Season's Greetings to you all,
David and Michaella Lazarus